Refrigerated storage house



2, 1955 R. H. TAYLOR ETAL 3,214,934

REFRIGERATED STORAGE HOUSE Filed Dec. '7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTORS ARTHUR P. HILLEN BY RAYMOND H. TAYLOR ATTORNE S.

1965 R. H. TAYLOR ETAL 3,214,934

REFRIGERATED STORAGE HOUSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. '7, 1961 NR mm mmO HT m H E mo v HN m To MM M f V i I 5n ig ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,214,934 REFRIGERATED STORAGE HOUSE Raymond H.Taylor, New York, N.Y., and Arthur P.

Hillen, Heidelberg, Pm, assignors to Raymor Corporatiou, Pittsburgh,Pin, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 157,74111 Claims. (Cl. 62-259) This invention relates to refrigerated storageor warehouses, and particularly to a refrigerated storage or warehouseof simplified design having a semi-automatic material handling deviceincorporated therewithin.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved structure for storing refrigerated articles.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved refrigerated warehouse having provision for the readypassage of the refrigerated air therethrough whereby to eliminate theneed for elaborate duct work.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved material handling device especially useful in arefrigerated warehouse.

The above and other objects, characteristics and features of the presentinvention will be more fully understood in the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a refrigerated warehouse embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the material handling device for use inconnection with the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the material handling device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the refrigerated warehousestructure to be described herein is designated generally by thereference numeral The structure includes two storage bays 12 and 14which are spaced apart by an elongated elevator space or pass-ageway 16.Each of the bays is a multi-storied structure having a plurality ofvertically spaced floors 18 each of which has a number of air passagesor apertures 20 therein. As will become obvious hereinafter, there is noneed for air passages 20 in the first floor 18'. Preferably the floors18 are made of precast concrete, although, of course, in lieu thereofthey may be made of poured-inplace concrete or of steel. As will beunderstood more fully hereinafter, the purpose of the apertures 20 is toprovide easy air flow of refrigerated air from floor to floor, wherebyto insure relatively uniform temperature throughout the entirestructure. As used herein, the word floor is intended to mean floor,level, horizontal support structure and tier, as the structure, asalready indicated, will not include a conventional floor, but instead, ahorizontal structure having passages therethrough. The floor 18 may be asteel or concrete gr-idwork.

Disposed on the roof 22 of each of the bays 12 and 14 is a refrigerator24 having an outlet 26 which passes through the roof to introducerefrigerated air at the top of each of the bays. Overlying the elevatorspace or passageway 16 is a suitable closure or shelter such as ashedtype roof 28. The structure is also provided with exterior thermalinsulating walls 30 at both sides and ends of the bays but not on thesides confronting one another whereby there is easy passage of air fromone bay to the other across the open elevator passage 16.

It will be seen that with the refrigerator units 24 disposed at the topof the structure and with the large elevator passageway 16 between thebays in free communi- "ice cation with both bays, and with the apertures20 providing additional communication for the passage of air from floorto floor that the cold air introduced through the refrigerator outlets26 can readily pass downwardly from floor to floor to thereby reach thebottornmost floors of the building or warehouse 10 with little or nointerference whereby to insure the easy circulation of cold airthroughout the building without the incorporation of elaborate andcostly duct work. This provides for a far simplified construction with asubstantial economic saving therein. Underlying the building 10 is abase or foundation 23 having a central well portion 25 underlying thepassage 16. Disposed on the well portion 25 are a pair of track rails 27which are fixedly mounted to the well 25 in any suitable manner. Mountedon the nails 27 are Wheels 29 which directly support the elevatorstructure 31 to be described hereinbelow.

The elevator structure 31 may assume any suitable form. However, as Ishowed herein, the elevator structure 31 is formed of four verticalmembers 32 disposed at the corners of the structure which are joined atvertically spaced intervals by horizontal members 33 to form a rigidrectangular vertically extending structure for which the elevator cab 36may move up and down. Mounted on the support structure 31 is a suitablemotor means 34 for actuating a lift mechanism here shown by way ofexample and not by Way of limitation to be a hydraulic ram 35, havingassociated therewith a pulley and cable arrangemeat 37. Naturally, inlieu of a hydraulic lift, an electrical lift or any other suitable powerlift may be employed. The motor 34 is also employed for impartingrotation to the wheels 29 carried by the bottom of the supportsstructure 31 whereby to impart horizontal movement to the supportstructure on the rails 27.

Thus it will be seen that the elevator cab 36 is adapted to movevertically up and down under the power drive of the hydraulic mechanism35 and the pulley arrangement 37 and is adapted to move horizontallythrough the passage 16 by actuation of the wheels 29 at the bottom ofthe elevator structure. In this manner, the elevator cab 36 can bebrought to rest at any floor level in the structure and opposite anyhorizontal portion of such floor. It should be noted that as theelevator cab 36 and the over-all elevator support structure 31 is movedthrough the passage 16 it tends to stir up the refrigerated air passingthrough the structure 10 whereby to more effectively distribute itthroughout the entire structure to thereby further enhance the ease ofpassage of the air throughout the structure.

It will be obvious that some duct work may be required to distributerefrigerated air coming from refrigerator units 24 horizontally alongthe space just beneath the roof of the structure in order to introducesuch refrigerated air to areas horizontally remote from the units 24.However, with the exception of such horizontal duct work, no additionalduct work is necessary and, especially, no vertical duct work isrequired to bring cold air to the lower levels of the building.

All the above structures including the combination of the bays with thevertically and horizontally movable elevator cab contribute to asimplified refrigerated warehouse having maximum passage and circulationof cold air therethrough. However, with an elevator structure of thetype described, it becomes highly desirable to incorporate on saidelevator structure the means for moving articles on to and off of saidelevator structure whereby to eliminate any manual handling thereof. Itbecomes desirable furthermore to actually dispose the articles to berefrigerated on pallets whereby to space the article from the floors 18to thereby minimize any impairment of cold air flow from floor to floorthrough the apertures 20. It will be obvious to those skilled in the and4 and reference will be had to these figures.

frigerated onto and off of the elevator floor or cab 36 will be termed adolly. The dolly is shown best in FIGS. 3 The dolly structure is formedof conventional structural members such as channels, angles, or I-barsto provide the desired structural rigidity depending on the type ofmaterial to be refrigerated in the warehouse. As shown herein the dollyis formed of two outer channels 41 arranged with the channel webs facingoutwardly towards the Wheels 40 which movably supports the dollystructure. Upper angle irons 42 are secured within the channels 41 andlower angle irons 43 are secured against the upper angle irons 42 with aspace 44 between the upper legs of angle irons 42 and 43 forming aguide. The manner of secure-ment of these members may be any suitablemanner such as nuts and bolts, rivets or welding. Channels 41 and angles42 and 43 are also connected to one another by appropriate cross members44 to thereby form an outer slide 45.

Mounted on the elevator platform or cab 36 are opposed pairs of innerand outer spaced angle irons 46 and 47 respectively as best seen in FIG.3. The inner angle irons 46 have smaller upper angle irons 48 secured tothe upstanding legs thereof in any suitable manner. It will be notedfrom the drawing that the angle irons 46, 47 and 48 are spaced withrespect to each other to provide a trackway for Z beams 50.

Two spaced Z beams 50 having L beams 52 secured thereto are employed toform an inner slide 53 as will become more apparent hereafter. L beams52 have bearing blocks 54 secured thereto, through which a shaft 55extends. The shaft 55 is rotatably mounted on said L beams in anyconventional manner. Pinions 56 along with sprocket wheels 57 aresecured to shaft 55 for rotation therewith. A sprocket wheel and pinionassembly 57-56 is arranged near each end of the slides 45 and 53 asviewed in FIG. 4. Upper moveable rack 60 is secured along thelongitudinal axis beneath the top surface of slide 45 and a stationaryrack 61 is secured to the elevator platform 36. Racks 60 and 61 extendsubstantially the length of the slides 45 and 53 and are at least aslong as the distance between the outer circumference of pinion 56 asviewed in FIG. 4.

A sprocket chain 62 is trained over sprocket wheels 57 so that rotationof either of the sprocket wheels 57 will be imparted to the other.

v, in rotation by a reversible motor selectively driving the drum inopposite directions. Drum 70 and its drive motor are mounted in aconventional fashion beneath the elevator platform 36.

Disposed above the outer slide 45 are a pair of channels 75 which areconnected to one another at spaced intervals by cross beams 78 wherebyto form a rigid jack frame.

Engaging the undersides of the channels 75 are the moveable members 80of jacks 82 having their stationary members 84 secured to the top 44 ofthe outer slide 45 under at least the four corners of the jack frame.Suitable means for raising and lowering the jacks, such as a hydraulicactuator 86 is provided to simultaneously raise and'lower the jacks 82whereby to raise and lower the 4 jack frame 75. The jack frame 75 isadapted to fit under a conventional pallet whereupon it may be raised bythe jacks which are positioned on all four corners of the jack frame andthereby lift the pallet off the floor.

To describe the operation of the material handling apparatusincorporated in the warehouse 10, let it be assumed that a pallet 90 isresting on the first floor 18 and is to be moved from the first floor ofbay 12 to the third floor 18" of bay 14 at a predetermined location onsaid third floor. The elevator structure 31 is moved by the wheels 29until the elevator floor 36 is in horizontal alignment with the pallet98. Simultaneously, the elevator is lowered to bring the dolly intoregistry with the opening in the pallet. At this time the jack frame 75is in its lowered position to enable it to pass under the pallet.

The drum 78 is thereupon rotated in a counter-clockwise directionwhereby to pull in on the cable portion 66 and to let out on the cableportion 65 to thereby move the inner slide 53 to the left as viewed inFIG. 4. The movement of the inner slide will cause a concomitantmovement of the outer slide 45. However, in addition to the concomitantmovement, due to the inclusion of the sprocket 56 which will rotatebecause of movement of the inner slide 53 and the engagement ofsprockets 56 (or either of them) with stationary rack 61 they willimpart additional motion of the outer slide relative to the inner slide.Accordingly, the outer slide will have a motion that will be far greaterin distance than the inner slide which motion will be equal to themotion imparted by movement of the inner slide itself and further themotion imparted by virtue of the rotation of the sprockets 56. Themovement of the dolly and particularly the movement of the outer slide45 is continued until the jack frame has passed under the pallet 90 atwhich time the movement is stopped by deenergizing the motor meansrotating the drum 70. The hydraulic motor 86 is then actuated to raisethe jacks 82 whereby to lift the jack frame 75 to bring it intoengagement with the bottom of the pallet and then lift the pallet offthe floor 18. Upon this occurring, the motor means is again actuated torotate the drum 70 in'a counter-clockwise direction whereby to pull inon the cable portion 65 and to pay out on the cable portion 66 tothereby cause the inner carriage member 53 to move to the right asviewed in FIG. 4. The movement of the inner carriage 53 to the rightwill cause the sprockets 56 to rotate in a clockwise direction wherebyto impart not only the movement of the inner carriage to the outercarriage but to impart an additional movement due to theinter-engagement of the sprockets or gears 56 with the racks 60 and 61.This will return the dolly with the pallet carried thereon to theelevator floor 36.

The elevator will then be moved to the left or to the right by operationof the elevator wheels 29 on the tracks 27 and the elevator will beraised to bring the elevator floor 36 in registry with the floor 18'.Thereupon the motor driving the drum 70 is actuated to rotate the drumin a counter-clockwise direction to move the inner carriage to the rightand hence to move the outer carriage 45 to the right at a more rapidrate and for a greater distance. The movement of the outer carriage 45to the right will continue until the pallet 90 is located over desiredportion of the floor 18" of the bay 14 whereupon the movement isdiscontinued. At that point the hydraulic motor means 86 is actuated tolower the jacks 82 to move the pallet downwardly onto the floor and thejack frame continues moving downwardly until it becomes disengaged fromthe pallet. At that point the dolly can be moved leftward in a manneralready described to return it to the elevator. From the foregoingdescription, it will be seen that a convenient semi-automatic materialhandling dolly has been incorporated into the warehouse for efficienthandling of the material to be cold-stored whereby to quickly andeconomically handle such material as it need be handled. Thus it will beseen that the warehouse structure described herein is not only highlyeconomical to build due to the elimination of ducts and theincorporation of a moveable elevator of the type described for enhancingthe flow of cold air through the building but is inexpensive to operatedue to the decreased amount of labor necessary to handle goods withinthe warehouse. The problem of labor in such warehouses is oftensignificant due to the fact that generally premiums must be paid forworkers working under such adverse temperature conditions.

It will be understood that although this description has been limited toa refrigerated structure, it is equally applicable to a structure havinga refrigerated section and a non-refrigerated section. In such astructure, the two sections would be separated by an insulated wallextending transversely of passageway 16, and moveable insulated doors,which when opened, will permit elevator structure 31 with elevator 36thereon to pass between the two sections. Naturally, thenon-refrigerated section will not require its exterior walls to bethermal insulating.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred form of thepresent invention, it will be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the intendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What We claim is:

1. A cold storage warehouse comprising a plurality of vertically spacedstories surrounded by vertical surfaces, means for supporting saidvertically spaced stories in said vertically spaced relation, a passagealongside of one vertical surface of said structure, said passage beingin direct communication with the space between said stories, avertically and horizontally movable elevator in said passage fortransporting material from one story to another, each story of saidstructure being of substantially greater width than the width of saidelevator and a refrigeration unit disposed on the roof of saidstructure, said refrigeration unit having a discharge outlet directedinto the top story only of said structure.

2. A cold storage warehouse comprising a support structure having aplurality of vertically spaced floors with a plurality of verticallyextending passages extending through each of them above the first floor,means for supporting said plurality of floors in vertically spacedrelation, and a refrigeration unit disposed on the roof of saidwarehouse and having a discharge outlet for discharging refrigerated aironly in the space above the top floor of said structure, anotherpassage, said other passage being disposed alongside of said supportstructure, and being in direct communication with the space between saidfloors, said other passage being in direct communication with the spacebetween said floors, and a vertically and horizontally movable elevatordisposed in said other passage alongside said support structure fortransporting material from one door of said structure to another eachfloor of said structure being of substantially greater width than thewidth of said elevator.

3. A cold storage warehouse comprising an enclosed building having twospaced apart bays with a passage therebetween, each of said bays havinga plurality of vertically spaced floors with a plurality of verticallyextending passages extending through each of them above the first floor,said passage being in direct communication with the space between saidfloors, means for supporting said plurality of floors in verticallyspaced relation, and a refrigeration unit disposed on the roof of saidbuilding and having a discharge outlet for discharging refrigerated aironly in the space above the top floor of said building, each floor ofsaid building being of substantially greater width than the width ofsaid elevator and a vertically and horizontally movable elevatordisposed in said passage between said bays for transporting materialfrom one floor of said building to another, said passage between saidbays being in direct communication with the space between said floors.

4. A cold storage warehouse comprising a support structure, a pluralityof vertically spaced floors supported by said support structure, saidfloors having a plurality of vertically extending passages extendingthrough each of them above the first door and a refrigeration unitdisposed on the roof of said warehouse and having a discharge outlet fordischarging refrigerated air only into the space above the top floor ofsaid structure, another passage alongside of said support structure,said other passage being in direct communication with the space betweensaid floors and a vertically and horizontally movable elevator disposedin said passage alongside said support structure for transportingmaterial from one floor of said structure to another, each floor of saidstructure being of substantially greater width than the Width of saidelevator, said passage between said bays being in direct communicationwith the space between said floors and means on said elevator fortransferring material onto and off of said elevator, said meanscomprising first slide means supported for reciprocation by saidelevator, second slide means reciprocally extensible from said firstslide means; means for extending and withdrawing said first slide means;and rack and pinion means between said first slide means and said secondslide means to effect reciprocation of said second slide means inresponse to movement of said first slide means, whereby said first andsecond slide means may be simultaneously extended or retracted.

5. A cold storage Warehouse comprising a support structure, a pluralityof vertically spaced floors supported by said support structure, saidfloors having a plurality of vertically extending passages extendingthrough each of them above the first floor, and a refrigeration unitdisposed on the roof of said warehouse and having a discharge outlet fordischarging refrigerated air only into the space above the top floor ofsaid structure, another passage alongside of said support structure andbeing in direct communication with the space between said floors, and avertically and horizontally movable elevator disposed in said otherpassage alongside said support structure for transporting material fromone floor of said structure to another, and means on said elevator fortransferring material onto and off of said elevator, said meanscomprising first slide means supported for reciprocation by saidelevator, second slide means reciprocally extensible from said firstslide means; means for extending and withdrawing said first slide means;and gear means between said first slide means and said second slidemeans to effect reciprocation of said second slide means in response tomovement of said first slide means, whereby said first and second slidemeans may be simultaneously extended or retracted, said gear meansincluding rotatable means rotatably supported on said first slide meansfor rotation upon reciprocation of said first slide means and rack meanssecured to the slide means upon which said rotatable means are notsupported, said rack means contacting said rotatable means so that therotary motion of said rotatable means is converted to reciprocal motionof the slide means upon which said reciprocable rack means are secured.

6. A cold storage warehoouse comprising an enclosed building having twospaced apart bays with a passage therebetween, each of said bays havinga plurality of vertically spaced floors with a plurality of verticallyextending passages extending through each of them above the first floor,means for supporting said plurality of floors in vertically spacedrelation, and a refrigeration unit disposed on the roof of said buildingand having a discharge outlet for discharging refrigerated air only intothe space above the top floor of said building, and a vertically andhorizontally movable elevator disposed in said passage between said baysfor transporting material from one floor of said building to another,said passage between said bays being in direct communication with thespace between said floors, and means on said elevator for transferringmaterial onto and off of said elevator, said means comprising firstslide means supported for reciprocation by said elevator; second slidemeans reciprocally extensible from said first slide means; means forextending and withdrawing said first slide means; and gear means betweensaid first slide means and said second slide means to effectreciprocation of said second slide means in response to movement of saidfirst slide means, whereby said first and second slide means may besimultaneously extended or retracted, said gear means includingrotatable means rotatably supported on said first slide means forrotation upon reciprocation of said first slide means and rack meanssecured to the slide means upon which said rotatable means are notsupported, said rack means contacting said rotatable means so that therotary motion of said rotatable means is converted to reciprocal motionof the slide means upon which said rack means are secured, and meanscarried by said second slide means and movable vertically relativethereto.

7. A warehouse comprising a support structure having a plurality ofvertically spaced floors with a plurality of vertical-1y extendingpassages extending through each of them above the first floor, anotherpassage, said other passage being disposed alongside said supportstructure and being in direct communication with the space between saidfloors, a vertically and horizontally movable elevator disposed in saidother passage alongside said support structure for transporting materialfrom one floor of said structure to another, each floor of saidstructure being of substantially greater width than the width of saidelevator, means for effecting transfer of material from one location toanother location comprising: first slide means supported forreciprocation at one of said locations; second slide means reciprocallyextensible from said first slide means; means for extending andWithdrawing said first slide means; and rack and pinion means betweensaid first slide means and said second slide means to effectreciprocation of said second slide means in response to movement of saidfirst slide means, whereby said first and second slide means may besimultaneously extended or retracted.

8. The warehouse as in claim 7 in which said rack and pinion meanscomprises: rotatable means rotatably supported on said first slide meansfor rotation upon reciprocation of said first slide means andreciprocable rack means secured to the said second slide means, saidreciprocable rack means contacting said rotatable means so that therotary motion of said rotatable means is converted to reciprocal motionof said second slide means.

9. The warehouse as in claim 8 in which said rack and pinion meansfurther comprises fixed rack means are secured adjacent said rotatingmeans and in contact therewith, said fixed rack means engaging saidrotating means to initiate rotation thereof upon movement of the slidemeans upon which said rotatable means are supported.

10. A warehouse comprising a support structure having a plurality ofvertically spaced floors with a plurality of vertically extendingpassages extending through each of them above the first fioor, anotherpassage, said other passage being disposed alongside said supportstructure and being in direct communication with the space between saidfloors, a vertically and horizontally movable elevator disposed in saidother passage alongside said support structure for transporting materialfrom one fioor of said structure to another, each floor of saidstructure being of substantially greater width than the width of saidelevator, a materials handling carriage for effecting transfer ofmaterials from a loading point to an area in which the carriage ismounted, said carriage comprising: a fixed rack secured to the area inwhich the carriage is mounted; an inner slide movable over said rack; apinion rotatably supported on said inner slide and engaging said fixedrack; an outer slide movably mounted with respect to said inner slide; amovable rack fixedly secured to said out-er slide for movementtherewith, and in engagement with said pinion; and motive meanseffecting movement of said inner slide, whereby upon movement of saidinner slide under the influence of said motive means, said outer slidewill be extended as a result of the movement of said pinion.

11. A cold storage warehouse comprising a support structure having aplurality of vertically spaced floors with a plurality of verticallyextending passages extending through each of them above the first floor,means for supporting said plurality of floors in vertically spacedrelation and a refrigeration unit having a discharge outlet fordischarging refrigerated air into the space above the top floor of saidstructure, another passage, said other passage being disposed alongsideof said support structure and being in direct communication with thespace between said fioors and a vertically and horizontally movableelevator disposed in said other passage alongside said support structurefor transporting material from one floor of said structure to another,each floor of said structure being of substantially greater width thanthe width of said elevator.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 12,300 1/05Wills 62--259 283,637 8/83 Mills 62--259 1,052,450 2/13 Berglund 62-2592,004,927 6/35 Bulkeley 62259 2,141,855 12/38 Dodge 62259 X 2,223,96212/40 Mitchell 21416.14 2,493,493 1/50 Mariano 214-16.16 2,626,065 1/53Sanders et al 21416.14 2,779,572 1/57 Holman 62259 2,804,218 8/57Sylvester et al 214-16.42 2,845,189 7/58 Sanders 21416.14 2,951,599 9/60Bogar 2l416.14

ROBERT A, OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

1. A COLD STORAGE WAREHOUSE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACEDSTORIES SURROUNDED BY VERTICAL SURFACES, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAIDVERTICALLY SPACED STORIES IN SAID VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION, A PASSAGEALONGSIDE OF ONE VERTICAL SURFACE OF SAID STRUCTURE, SAID PASSAGE BEINGIN DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID STORIES, AVERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE ELEVATOR IN SAID PASSAGE FORTRANSPORTING MATERIAL FROM ONE STORY TO ANOTHER, EACH STORY OF SAIDSTRUCTURE BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER WIDTH THAN THE WIDTH OF SAIDELEVATOR AND A REFRIGERATION UNIT DISPOSED ON THE ROOF OF SAIDSTRUCTURE, SAID REFRIGERATION UNIT HAVING A DISCHARGE OUTLET DIRECTEDINTO THE TOP STORY ONLY OF SAID STRUCTURE.